It was the third annual training event, and it was better than ever.
Three-hundred-fifty officers and fifty advisors from Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) at high schools and middle schools in Miami-Dade County came to Florida International University (FIU) to learn more about achieving success with their organization. The FIU chapter of Future Business Leaders of America–Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) conducted a daylong Officer Training on October 1, 2010.
FBLA-PBL is the college equivalent of PBL. Both organizations prepare students for careers in business fields.
“This year’s event included separate workshops for high schoolers and middle schoolers,” said chapter reporter Claudia Capdesuner, who previously attended as a high school student. “Plus we changed to roundtable seating with officers of the same rank networking with each other. These were big improvements.”
The event’s keynote address by chapter member Christopher Cuan, which included his own comedy acts, was enthusiastically received.
Yanyn San Luis, student and alumni relations coordinator in the office of Advancement, Alumni and Corporate Relations in the College of Business Administration, told attendees how FIU’s business school can help them reach their goals.
“Attending Officers Training made me realize there are myriad sources available that we can easily access,” said Marnie Ruiz, vice president of her high school chapter.
“The training we conducted bridges the knowledge gap between the FBLA and PBL divisions and leads to increased collaboration, now and later,” said Bruno Cevallos, chapter president.
Breakout sessions and networking zero in on specialized needs.
During the afternoon, the interactive workshop sessions high school officers attended included “Google My Twitter and I’ll Facebook Your YouTube,” which explored using social media to brand their high school chapter. Sessions for middle school students included one on power communications.
“Following these presentations, students participated in roundtable discussions,” Capdesuner said. “FIU students visited each table, to lend advice and to also encourage seniors to look at FIU in their college search.”
Sixteen volunteers from FIU’s FBLA-PBL coordinated and participated in this year’s event. Jose Toscano (BA ’97) serves as the organization’s advisor.
FBLA-PBL presents to Dean’s Council.
Cevallos; Daniel Fernandez, executive vice president; and Iris Curtis, vice president of community service, recently presented to members of the Dean’s Council.
“The presentation was to enable them to showcase the organization’s accomplishments at the national leadership conference, introduce Dean’s Council members to the students who are accomplishing great things and keep the line of communication open among students, alumni and donors,” San Luis said.
